Jake and Naomi have postponed their month long training for the mission field until this coming fall. They felt like they needed to be in Maine to support the couples who have separated from the Holdeman church during and after their excommunication (which could be this Sunday). The couples are currently on 'repentance' with the church which is a pre-excommunication level.
Charles has trouble with an elbow which has kept him from playing violin for the Rochester orchestra for some time now. He needs prayer for direction and healing.
Friday, March 29, 2013
Thursday, March 28, 2013
Update
We're painting, tearing out, building and putting down flooring in the new home so we can move out of our present home by April 17th. It's crazy around here....but things are looking purdier all the time....
We're glad for the McIntoshes help, Streets, Troyers, Delagranges, Mom......
We're glad for the McIntoshes help, Streets, Troyers, Delagranges, Mom......
Report on Neighbors
Some of you have joined us in prayer for the salvation of Tom and Cindy, a couple who are neighbors with our church family, the McIntoshes. Tom was put in hospice last week and may not make it for any more than a few more days.
Don stopped by on Tuesday night. Tom can't talk much but Don reviewed the gospel with him and asked him if he would nod his head if he wanted to put his trust in Jesus. Don thought he saw a slight nod. So Don took his hand and said that Tom should squeeze his hand if he wanted to pray to turn his life over to the Lord - Don felt a slight squeeze. Don told Tom to pray along with him as he prayed the prayer of commitment. He then asked Tom if he had prayed the prayer with him. At that point, Don felt a good squeeze! Don has felt the Lord witnessing in his heart that the Lord did a work in Tom at that time. We praise the Lord greatly for this!! It has been such a burden on our hearts.
Cindy wanted Tom baptized so Don took a little water and did that as well.
Don then mentioned to Cindy that this would be a good time for her to put her trust in the Lord as well. She responded in such a way that she didn't feel the need for any more commitment than she already had so we will continue to pray for her.
Don stopped by on Tuesday night. Tom can't talk much but Don reviewed the gospel with him and asked him if he would nod his head if he wanted to put his trust in Jesus. Don thought he saw a slight nod. So Don took his hand and said that Tom should squeeze his hand if he wanted to pray to turn his life over to the Lord - Don felt a slight squeeze. Don told Tom to pray along with him as he prayed the prayer of commitment. He then asked Tom if he had prayed the prayer with him. At that point, Don felt a good squeeze! Don has felt the Lord witnessing in his heart that the Lord did a work in Tom at that time. We praise the Lord greatly for this!! It has been such a burden on our hearts.
Cindy wanted Tom baptized so Don took a little water and did that as well.
Don then mentioned to Cindy that this would be a good time for her to put her trust in the Lord as well. She responded in such a way that she didn't feel the need for any more commitment than she already had so we will continue to pray for her.
Friday, March 15, 2013
well two weeks down at Columbus Culinary Institute and I am loving it!!!!!!!!!!!!!yesterday i recieved word when i called about a job at fedex night job in the warehouse that i was hired start the 2nd of april,a big BIG BIG answer to prayer and i have found a place to live instead of a hotel which i have been staying at while trying to find a job 3 weeks is enough for living in a hotel keep me in prayers as the job is 2am---6am or 8am deepends how busy they are so sleep may be a factor i have classes from 1130 am until 6pm monday thru wednesday and 1130am until 430 thrusday and friday the job is monday am thru thrus am so i can come home on weekends and spend time with the family and Jasmine another answer to prayer
Tuesday, March 12, 2013
A Cult Challenged
WHAT A DAY! There are two young families who have left a “Mennonite” cult in the last two months. This group is called the “Holdemans.”
The Lord has truly set them free from bondage and has given them joy and boldness in the Lord!
This Holdemans they left have two major heretical doctrines: 1. They believe that they are the One True Church and 2. They don’t believe that Jesus had the same flesh as us.
Any believers outside of their “church” are only in the kingdom and won’t be a part of the Bride of Christ till Jesus returns.
Because these men (Tim and Isaac) and their families have renounced those false teachings, they have been in serious trouble with that “church.”
I hope I can get all the facts straight here…
Yesterday we had a suspicion that the ministers were coming to visit them and then the church would pass judgment on them this weekend. If a member of the One True Church leaves that church, they will be considered hell bound people. If you leave the church you have left Jesus.
So, Naomi and I and the kids went over to one of the men’s houses to split wood and wait for the expected visit. Three of the ministers showed up that afternoon, and I won’t get into details.
It’s enough to say that they were being unbiblical in the way that they carried out discipline and were wiggling out of responsibility. It was somewhat of a circus.
It’s enough to say that they were being unbiblical in the way that they carried out discipline and were wiggling out of responsibility. It was somewhat of a circus.
They ended up saying that the two families were lifted up with pride to the point of being deceived and they also accused them Tim and Isaac and their wives of holding their “light” (truth) above the light of the brotherhood.
Last night they had a council meeting to vote about what to do with them. Tim and Isaac were invited to go, and we decided that they should go and seek for an opportunity to speak the truth.
A while before we left, Tim, Isaac and I went to a side room in Tim’s house and knelt together to pray for strength. How can one describe the presence of the Lord coming down and filling a room!?! Right away when we began to pray I sensed that the Lord was with us. And then one of the men began praying that all remaining ties to evil spirits from the church would be broken. When he prayed that, I sensed the presence of the Lord descend on us in a strong way. I lifted my hands and began praising the Lord. Later Isaac said that he didn’t hear the “rushing mighty wind” but he felt it’s effects. He also said later that he didn’t know exactly what he saw in the prayer time, but he saw something in the Spirit, something that was so wonderful he wanted to keep gazing at it! The Lord was there!
It reminded me of the apostles in Acts 4 coming back to the assembly and praying together that “with all boldness” they might speak the word and that signs and wonders might be done in Jesus Name and the place was shaken where they were assembled.
The council was a members only meeting so I sat in the car and walked around on the property and prayed for them. The Holy Spirit helped me to pray in such a way that I felt that a gush of words and examples from Scripture were coming out of me. Hallelujah! I told the Lord that this was mount Carmel and may that God who is God answer by fire.
I boldly told the Lord that this was His opportunity to show Himself strong on the behalf of two men whose hearts were perfect toward Him.
I boldly told the Lord that this was His opportunity to show Himself strong on the behalf of two men whose hearts were perfect toward Him.
Anyway, I ended up just praising the Lord toward the end.
After a while I saw my two brothers coming out of the church alone. With raised hands they sang part of “I’ve found a friend in Jesus, he’s everything to me, he’s the fairest of ten thousand to my soul.”
They were pretty shook up but they were encouraged as well. Almost all of them were put “on repentance” which one could call purgatory because you are not quite relegated to Hell fire, you just go through the ringer-washer till you are excommunicated or till you repent. It would actually be easier to just be excommunicated rather than to be on repentance.
One of the ministers named the sins before the congregation and they voted on each of them. Sarah was the only one who was not put “on repentance.” They lied about her saying that they didn’t believe that she really stood 100% with her husband Tim, EVEN THOUGH she clearly said that she did.
Then they gave Isaac and Tim the opportunity to speak. Isaac got up and spoke for a few minutes about how weak he was and then talked about false doctrine and the fear of man in the church.
Tim talked for maybe 10-15 min and boldly layed out the heresy and idolatry of the church. The church people basically put the church at the same level as Jesus and the church was started by a man who didn’t believe that Jesus came in the flesh, which means that the foundation of the church is antichrist not Jesus Christ! Tim said afterward that he didn’t remember really what all he said, but I believe that because he didn’t premeditate what he was going to say, God was faithful to His promise to give him a “mouth and wisdom.”
While Tim spoke, Isaac observed men bowed over in their seats and heard women saying things like “there are evil spirits in here, there’s an evil spirit here.” After Tim sat down one of the ministers stood up and said “This is the kind spirit we are dealing with here” and some of the men in the congregation spoke up together saying things like “We’re with you minister” or “that’s true.” I don’t know if the Holdemans have ever given such a reaction before. They are so quiet and peaceful, too peaceful. There is a certain slumbering peace that has gripped many modern-day Anabaptists, it isn’t of the Lord!
I think that by the Spirit of Truth, the foundation of that church was shaken which is why there were such strong responses.
Tim shared with beaming face afterward and said “I feel so free!”
Tim shared with beaming face afterward and said “I feel so free!”
We rejoiced together!
Both men need prayer for protection and strength during this time. Thank you to those in Kokomo who prayed last night!
Psalm 85:6-13 says:
6 Wilt thou not revive us again: that thy people may rejoice in thee? 7 Shew us thy mercy, O LORD, and grant us thy salvation.
8I will hear what God the LORD will speak: for he will speak peace unto his people, and to his saints: but let them not turn again to folly. 9 Surely his salvation is nigh them that fear him; that glory may dwell in our land. 10 Mercy and truth are met together; righteousness and peace have kissed each other. 11 Truth shall spring out of the earth; and righteousness shall look down from heaven. 12 Yea, the LORD shall give that which is good; and our land shall yield her increase. 13 Righteousness shall go before him; and shall set us in the way of his steps.
Hallelujah! There is so much more that has happened up till yesterday that I don’t have time to share, these men are ON FIRE for Jesus! The Lamb is receiving the reward of His suffering in the lives of these families!
Jake
Sunday, March 3, 2013
Add-ons
Some musings related to a couple recent posts....when we let a realtor list our house, we had no idea the interest that would be there, and I don't think he did either. In less than two weeks, we had to show the house 17 times!! Of course, the fact that we just bought a house in Defiance was motivating us to sell, but trying to get the showings to stop was also motivation to accept offers!! It seemed like all I could do was clean house and then try to find somewhere to go for an hour or two or three every day!! Praise the Lord for the response, right? :-)
It was also interesting that the former owners of our house in Defiance had put some new laminate flooring down in the living room and one bedroom, and when they moved out decided to take it all with them!! Plus carpet in one bedroom and a long row of cabinets in the garage!! That threw us and our budget for a little loop, but God helped us through it and we're working on finding good replacements. Who knows....maybe the Lord is helping us get rid of more things that could be ridden with cat hair anyway!
Lastly, we are rejoicing with Jake and Naomi in the new couples He has brought into their fellowship. When Jake was praying about where to move, I couldn't pray about it because I just wanted him in New Haven with us (of course!). Don and Jake were getting Holy Spirit nudges toward Maine...a place of spiritual desolation....and a long, long way away. Now, Naomi's mother and friend are good spiritual people, but there wasn't much else. I was thankful they got to enjoy each other, but I knew especially Jake was hungry for more fellowship and was hitting a wall when reaching out to Christians in churches in the area. Now this wonderful event where there are two on fire couples who need Jake and Naomi's fellowship as much or more than the Litchfields need theirs! So TJIS is what God had in mind! When Naomi wrote about it in this blog, and when I heard her share on the phone with us about it, I was stirred at what was coming out of her! I felt like it resembled the song of praise that Miriam sang when God moved on behalf of the Israelites! God's leading is always good and will prove itself, bearing the fruit God intends for it to bear!
It was also interesting that the former owners of our house in Defiance had put some new laminate flooring down in the living room and one bedroom, and when they moved out decided to take it all with them!! Plus carpet in one bedroom and a long row of cabinets in the garage!! That threw us and our budget for a little loop, but God helped us through it and we're working on finding good replacements. Who knows....maybe the Lord is helping us get rid of more things that could be ridden with cat hair anyway!
Lastly, we are rejoicing with Jake and Naomi in the new couples He has brought into their fellowship. When Jake was praying about where to move, I couldn't pray about it because I just wanted him in New Haven with us (of course!). Don and Jake were getting Holy Spirit nudges toward Maine...a place of spiritual desolation....and a long, long way away. Now, Naomi's mother and friend are good spiritual people, but there wasn't much else. I was thankful they got to enjoy each other, but I knew especially Jake was hungry for more fellowship and was hitting a wall when reaching out to Christians in churches in the area. Now this wonderful event where there are two on fire couples who need Jake and Naomi's fellowship as much or more than the Litchfields need theirs! So TJIS is what God had in mind! When Naomi wrote about it in this blog, and when I heard her share on the phone with us about it, I was stirred at what was coming out of her! I felt like it resembled the song of praise that Miriam sang when God moved on behalf of the Israelites! God's leading is always good and will prove itself, bearing the fruit God intends for it to bear!
Saturday, March 2, 2013
Houses and Lands
God continues to bring things together for our move to Defiance. Last week we closed on our new home in Defiance. It's a ranch on a basement on an acre and a half, and also has a nice pond with it. We can't say it was our favorite house, but our favorites the Lord would check Don or it would get sold out from under us. But, this one is a little unexciting and is a foreclosure, and the Lord is saying yes. We have already started cleaning and painting. The former owners were cat lovers...but not very good cat caretakers. Need I say more?? We have torn out all the carpet in the house and had windows open today to air it out. Already, after working there twice, we are starting to fall in love with it. Now, that is amazing considering our attitude before! The Lord knows.
On the same day that we closed on the new house, we had an accepted counteroffer on our home in New Haven! So, assuming the inspection goes well next week, this house is sold too! Thank-you to all who prayed for our housing situation!
Those are our 'houses' and their stories.
As for 'lands', Don and I are excited and blessed to be able to go to Ireland this Tuesday to visit Jordan's sweet family for a week! Naomi's new baby won't be born for a couple months, but we have a looooooot of catching up to do with Nathanael as I haven't seen him in person since he was a month old, and Don hasn't seen him in person at all! He is almost a year and a half.
So, yes, God is providing houses and lands for us. It is an adventure - that's for sure. I keep pinching myself to see if we really are moving by faith to Defiance, OH....and if we really do have family in Ireland that we just HAVE to see every once in awhile. Amazing. And the story isn't over yet.
On the same day that we closed on the new house, we had an accepted counteroffer on our home in New Haven! So, assuming the inspection goes well next week, this house is sold too! Thank-you to all who prayed for our housing situation!
Those are our 'houses' and their stories.
As for 'lands', Don and I are excited and blessed to be able to go to Ireland this Tuesday to visit Jordan's sweet family for a week! Naomi's new baby won't be born for a couple months, but we have a looooooot of catching up to do with Nathanael as I haven't seen him in person since he was a month old, and Don hasn't seen him in person at all! He is almost a year and a half.
So, yes, God is providing houses and lands for us. It is an adventure - that's for sure. I keep pinching myself to see if we really are moving by faith to Defiance, OH....and if we really do have family in Ireland that we just HAVE to see every once in awhile. Amazing. And the story isn't over yet.
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